End closure comprised of liner and carton flaps



June 9, 1964 w. A. BRASTAD 3,136,471

END CLOSURE CQMPRISED OF LINER AND CARTON FLAPS Filed Oct. 29, 1962 FIG.I

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. BRASTAD Mam/6% ATTORNEY June 9,1964 w. A. BRASTAD 3,136,471

END CLOSURE COMPRISED OF LINER AND CARTON F LAPS Filed 001;. 29, 1962 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM A. BRASTAD ATTORNEY June 9, 1964 w. A. BRASTAD 3,136,471

END CLOSURE COMPRISED OF LINER AND CARTON FLAPS Filed 001:. 29, 1962 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM A. BRASTAD ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,136,471 END CLGSURECOMPRISED OF LINER AND CARTON FLAPS William A. Brastad, Minneapolis,Minn, assignor to General Mills, Inc., a corporation of Delaware FiledOct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,711 3 Claims. (Cl. 22914) The presentinvention relates to improvements in carrton end closures. Moreparticularly, it pertains to a closure including a carton with a linerinserted therein in which certain end flaps of the carton and certainportions of the liner are folded over the carton end during the sameoperation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a moisture imperviousend closure comprised of carton end flaps and a liner wherein at leasttwo portions of the liner are folded down simultaneously with the flapswhich are adjacent thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an end closurecomprised of carton end flaps and a liner in which at least a portion ofthe liner opens simultaneously with the flaps.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description in which certain preferred embodiments of theinvention are disclosed.

In the drawings which form a part of this application,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank forming one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carton partly in section formed fromthe blank of FIG. 1 in closed state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper end of the carton of FIG. 2 ina reclosed state;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper end of the carton of FIG. 2 inopen state;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are perspective views of the upper end of the cartonshown in FIG. 4 in partially closed states;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are perspective views of the upper end of the carton ofFIG. 2 in partially opened states;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the upper end of the carton of FIG. 2 inopen state.

With reference to FIG. 1, the full lines represent a blank 19 formingone embodiment of a carton illustrating the present invention whereasthe dash-dot lines indicate a liner for said carton. The blank 10 isshown with the surface which later becomes the inside of the carton 12uppermost. The blank 10 comprises a glue panel 14, a front side panel16, a first end side panel 18, a rear side panel 20, and a second sidepanel 22. The side panels are hingedly connected at score lines 24, 26,28, and 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Hingedly attached to the-lower portion ofthe side panel 16, 18, 20, and 22 are bottom end flaps 32, 34, 36, and38, respectively. The attachment of said side panels and said end flapsis along a score line 40. Hingedly attached to the upper portion of theside panels 16, 18, 20, and 22 are top end flaps 42, 44, 46, and 48,respectively. The end flaps 44 and 48 are sometimes hereinafter referredto as tabs. The attachment of the end flaps and said side panels isalong a score line 50.

The top end flap 46 has a weakened perforated tear line 47 therein whichextends transversely across from the upper edge 72 of said flap towardsthe hinge line 50 of said flap. The transverse line 47 divides the flap46 into an opening portion 46a and a normally unopened portion 46b. Theopening portion 46a has a tab 52 extending therefrom.

The top end flap 42 has a weakened perforated line 43 therein whichextends transversely across from the upper edge 45 of the flap 42 towardthe hinge line 50 "ice of said flap. The transverse line 43 divides theflap 42 into an opening portion 42a and a normally unopened portion 42b.The opening portion 42a has an inverted C type slit 54 therein. The tab52 and the slit 54 are designed and positioned so that when the carton12 (see FIG. 2) has been once opened as illustrated in FIG. 9 and it isdesired to reclose the carton, the tab 52 can be inserted in the slit 54as shown in FIG. 3.

In the preferred embodiment of the carton formed from the blank 10, awaxed liner 56 is adhesively bonded to the end flap 42 in the darkenedareas 58 and 60 and along both sides of weakened line 43, to the endflap 44 along darkened diagonal lines 62 and 64, to the end flap 46 inthe darkened area 66 and along both sides of the weakened line 47, andto' the end flap 48 along the darkened diagonal lines 68 and 70. Thewaxed paper liner 56 has its upper edge parallel to or coincident withthe upper edge 72 of the opening portion 46a of the end flap 46. Atleast the surface of the liner 56 directly adjacent the blank 10 has awaxed layer thereon.

To secure the carton body in its rectangular tubular shape asillustrated in FIG. 2, the glue-panel 14 is adhesively bonded to theinner surface of a second side end panel 22, i.e., the surface of saidpanel 22 which can be seen in FIG. 1. .FIG. 4 is the top end of thecarton of FIG. 2 before the top flaps are folded down. When the body ofcarton 12 is in its rectangular tubular shape as shown in FIG. 4 theupper edge of the liner 56 is parallel to the upper edge 72 of theopening portion 46a of the end flap 46 and the liner assumes therectangular tubular shape of the carton 12. This structure provides thecarton comprised of a tubular body with a tubular liner snugly insertedtherein. The liner 56 has its vertical edges bonded together from thetop to the bottom along a seam 74. The bottom edge of the liner 56 canalso be bonded together and rolled as shown at 76 in FIG. 2.

It will be noted in FIG. 4 that a first selected portion 78 of the liner56 projects above the upper edge of the tab 44, that a second selectedportion 80 of the liner 56 projects above the upper edge of the sideflap 42, and that a third selected portion 82 of the liner 56 projectsabove the upper edge of the tab 48.

The sealing of the end closure of carton 12 is accomplished as follows.The end flap 42 shown in FIG. 4 is folded down across the carton end asillustratedin FIG. 5. A portion of the liner 56 is folded down with theflap 42. That is, with the flap 42 folded as shown in FIG. 5 theselected portion 89 of the liner 56 extends in its folded down statefurther across the carton end than its adjacent flap 42. Also, the liner56 is caused to double fold in selected first and second areas 84 and86. The fold lines 88 and 90 of these areas 84 and 86, respectively formsubstantially an angle of 45 with the hinge line 50 of the tabs 44 and48. These diagonal fold lines 88 and 90 are directly adjacent to theadhesive areas which bound the previously mentioned glue lines 62 and 70respectively, of the end tabs 44 and 48.

Folding the flap 46 down to at least partially overlie the flap 42 asillustrated in FIG. 6 brings parts of thedouble fold areas 84 and 86into direct overlying contact with other parts of said double foldareas. The folding down of flap 46 also brings an area 92 (shown betweendotted lines 92a and 92b) of the liner which is close to the hinge lineof the flap 46 into direct overlying contact with the portion 8d of theliner. 7

Folding the tabs 44 and 48 down to at least partially overlie the flap46 brings the parts of the double fold areas 84 and 86 which overlie theother parts of said double fold areas into direct overlying contact withthe outside surface of the flap 46. Areas 94 and 96 of the tab 48 areprovided with adhesive to hold the flap 43 in its closed position asshown in FIG. 2. Selected areas 98 and 100 of the tab 44 (shown indotted lines on FIG. 6) are provided with means to provide a limitedreadily releasable adhesive bond, for example by use of glue resistantmaterial such as varnish. The areas 98 and 1% are provided with circularspots 102 which are free from adhesive resistant material (these areasare illustrated in FIG. 6 where the flap 44 is shown by dotted lines inan outwardly folded down position). Thus, when adhesive is applied tothe tab 44, and the tab 44 is placed to overlie the flap 46, the spots102 will provide readily releasable adhesive between the tab 44 and theopening portion 46a of the flap 46.

A selected area 104 of the opening portion 42a of the flap 42 isprovided with glue resistant material such as varnish. The area 104 isprovided with circular spots 166 which are free from adhesive resistantmaterial. Thus, when adhesive is supplied to the spots 106 and the flap46 is placed to overlie the flap 42, readily releasable adhesive bondwill be formed between the opening portion 42a of the flap 42 and theopening portion 46a of the flap 46 in the areas of the spots 106.

With the end flaps 42, 44, 46, and 48, and the liner portions adjacentthereto folded down as shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6 to their closedpositions as shown in FIG. 2 a continuous liner to liner end closureacross the end of the carton is obtained. The double fold areas of theliner, the parts of said double fold areas which overlie the other partsof the double fold areas, and the selected area 92 which overlies theprojecting portion 80 of the liner are sealed by applying heat andpressure thereto. This is accomplished preferably by inserting a mandrel(not shown) in known manner inside the folded structure shown in FIG. 2,while the bottom end of this structure is open. The heat and pressureapplied by the mandrel and its associated equipment to the top endclosure seals the carton end by flattening the folds of the liner alonglines like 83, 90, 108, and 116, by bonding the overlapping linerportions and areas together, and by setting the adhesive placed betweenthe carton flaps. The bond of the liner to liner (e.g. wax seal) is moreeasily separated than a bond of the liner to the flap (e.g. glue).Because the folds along lines 88, 90, 108, and 110 slant inwardly fromthe carton side panels, the portions of the liner 56 therealong will notoverhang the side edges of the mandrel and can be flattened by themandrel. After the carton end is thus sealed, the merchandise is placedin the liner of the carton 12 from the bottom end thereof and the bottomend of the liner and the carton are sealed individually in manners wellknown in the art.

The carton 12 of FIG. 2 is opened easily by grasping and lifting the tab44 upwardly and away from the flap 46. This causes the flap 46 and theportion of liner 56 adjacent to flap 46 to raise simultaneously sincethe liner 56 is adhered to the tab 44 along lines 62 and 64. This isillustrated in FIG. 7. Next the tab 52 is grasped and lifted upwardlyand away from the flap 42. This causes the flap 46 and the liner 56 totear simultaneously along the weakened perforated tear line 47 since theliner 56 is adhered to the opening portion 46a along line 47 and in area66, and a region 112 of the liner 56 to move simultaneously with saidopening portion 46a to the position shown in FIG. 8. The opening portion42a of the fiap 42 is then lifted and moved to the position shown inFIG. 9. This causes the flap 42 and the liner 56 to tear simultaneouslyalong the weakened perforated tear line 43. Because the liner 56 isadhesively attached to the opening portion 42a along line 43 and in area60, a selected reregion 114 of said liner is lifted simultaneously withsaid opening portion 42a to the position shown in FIG. 9. In the openposition shown in FIG. 9, the opening portions 42a and 46a and the tab44 along with the selected regions 112, 114, and 78 of the liner 56provide a pour-spout through which the merchandise placed in the liner56 of the carton 12 can be poured out of said carton.

The fact that the liner 56 is adhered to the flaps 42 and 46 alongweakened tear lines 43 and 47, respectively, facilitates the tearing ofsaid liner when the opening portion 46a and 42a are moved into theirpositions shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 8 shows that the tear line 43 of flap 42is positioned closer to the side panel 18 than the tear line 47 of theflap 46 when the carton 12 is in its assembled condition. Such anorientation of the weakened tear lines 43 and 47 provides an arrangementwhereby the line 43 can be torn after the opening portion 46a of theflap 46 has been separated from the opening portion 42a of the flap 42.This arrangement also prevents a crack entering directly into thepackage.

The closure of the carton 12 shown in FIG. 9 is effected by moving theflap 42 back to the position shown in FIG. 8, then moving the flap 44 sothat it overlies flap 42, then folding flap 46a down upon flap 44, andthen tucking the tab 52 into the slit 54. This closed condition is shownin FIG. 3. Alternately, the carton 12 can be closed by folding the tab44 down to overlie the carton end, then moving the flap 42a so that itoverlies tab 44, then folding the flap 46a down upon flap 42a, and thentucking the tab 52 into the slit 54. Thus, the operation of reclosingthe flaps also recloses the liner and provides liner to liner contactfor better preservation of the contents in the reclosed carton.

In view of the principles set forth herein, I have shown some of theways of carrying out the present invention and some of the equivalentswhich are suggested by these disclosures.

What is clairned is:

l. A carton comprising a tubular body formed of side panels and a linerinserted therein, said carton having end flaps for closing in end ofsaid cartons, said end flaps including first and second flaps hinged atfirst and second hinge lines respectively to first and second panelslocated at opposite sides of said body, said end flaps including a tabhinged at a third hinge line to a third panel connecting said first andsecond hinged panels, said liner being long enough so a first selectedportion thereof projects beyond the upper edge of said third panel, saidliner also being long enough so a second selected portion thereofprojects beyond the upper edge of said first flap, said second selectedportion being folded down to extend across the carton end and to doublefold the liner in at least one selected area to form a first double foldarea, said liner being adhesively attached to said first tab so the foldline of said first double fold area extends diagonally fromsubstantially one end of the hinge line of said first flap along saidtab to form substantially a 45 angle with said tab hinge line, a seconddouble fold area in the liner comprised of a first part of said firstdouble fold area being folded over a second part of said first doublefold area, said liner being adhesively attached to said first tab so thefold line of said second double fold area extends diagonally fromsubstantially one end of the hinge line of said second flap along saidtab to form substantially a 45 angle with said tab hinge line, saidliner being attached to said tab to permit said liner to form saiddiagonal lines and to cause said liner to be raised when said tab israised, said first flap being folded down to at least partially overliethe carton opening, said second flap being folded down to at leastpartially overlie said first flap and to bring said first part of saidfirst double fold area into direct contact with said second part of saidfirst double fold area, said folding down of said second flap to alsobring the inner surface of at least a part of the area of said linerwhich is close to and projects above the hinge line of said second flapinto direct contact with the outer surface of the portion of the linerwhich projects beyond the upper edge of said first flap, said tab beingfolded down to at least partially overlie said second flap and to bringsaid first and second double fold areas into superposed position betweensaid tab and said second flap, and means providing a limited readilyreleasable adhesive attachment between said first flap and said tab forready separation thereof, while at the same time bonding said flap andtab against premature accidental separation.

2. A carton comprising a tubular body formed of side panels and a linerinserted therein, said carton having end fiaps for closing the end ofsaid carton, said end flaps including a first tab hinged to a firstpanel of the carton, first and second flaps hinged at first and secondhinge lines respectively to second and third panels at opposite sides ofsaid first panel, said liner being long enough so selected portionsthereof project beyond the upper edges of at least said first tab hingeline and said first flap, said first flap being folded down to extendacross said carton end and to double fold the liner in at least oneselected area, said liner being adhesively attached to said first tabalong a first line extending diagonally from substantially one end ofthe hinge line of said first flap to form substantially a 45 angle withsaid first tab hinge line, said second flap being folded down to extendacross the carton end and to double fold the liner in at least one otherselected area, said liner being adhesively attached to said first tabalong a second line extending diagonally from substantially one end ofthe hinge line of said second flap to form substantially a 45 angle withsaid first tab hinge line, said first tab being folded down to at leastpartially overlie said second flap and to bring at least a portion ofone of said double fold areas into direct contact with the outer surfaceof said second flap, the folding down of said second flap bringing theinner surface of at least a part of the area of the liner which is closeto and projects above the hinge line of said second flap into directcontact with the outer surface of the portion of the liner whichprojects beyond the upper edge of said first flap, and means providinglimited readily releasable adhesive attachment between said tab and saidsecond flap and said second and first flaps for ready separationthereof, while at the same time bonding the said flaps against prematureaccidental separation.

3. A carton comprising a rectangular tubular body formed of side panelsand a tubular liner inserted therein, said carton at least at one endhaving flap hingedly connected with respective side panels for closingthe end of said carton, said end flaps including first and second tabshinged to opposite panels of said carton and first and second outerfiaps hinged to the other opposite panels of said carton, said firstflap having a weakened tear line therein which extends transverselythereacross from the upper edge of said first fiap towards the hingeline of said first flap, said transverse line dividing said first flapinto an opening portion and a normally unopened portion, said secondflap having a weakened tear line therein which extends transverselythereacross from the upper edge of the second fiap towards the hingeline of said second flap, said transverse line dividing said second flapinto an opening portion and a normally unopened portion, said linerbeing long enough so selected portions thereof project beyond the upperedges of the tab hinge lines and the upper edge of said first flap, saidliner being adhesively attached to said first tab along a first lineextending diagonally from substantially the free end of the hinge lineof the opening portion of one of said first and second flaps, saiddiagonal line forming substantially a angle with said first tab hingedline, said liner also being adhesively attached to said second fiap onboth sides of said second flap transverse line, said liner also beingadhesively attached to said first flap on both sides of said first flaptransverse line, said first flap being folded down across said end, afirst selected outer portion of the liner which projects beyond theupper edge of said first flap extending in its folded down state furtheracross said carton end than said first flap, said second flap beingfolded down across said first flap with the opening portion of saidsecond flap overlying the opening portion of said first flap so that theweakened tear line of said first flap can be torn after the openingportion of the second flap has been separated from the opening portionof the first flap, said liner being short of extending up to the upperedge of said unopened portion of said second flap thereby providing anarea between the upper edge of the liner and the upper edge of saidnormally unopened portion of said second flap which is free from havingany liner portion directly adjacent thereto, the free area beingadhesively bonded to an area of the normally unopened portion of thefirst flap, a selected inner surface area of the liner adjacent to saidsecond flap directly overlying said first selected outer surface portionof the liner which projects beyond the upper edge of the first flap,said first and second tabs being folded down to at least partiallyoverlie said second flap, said liner being releasably sealed togetherwhere said selected inner surface liner area overlies said firstselected outer surface liner portion and where said liner forms saiddouble fold areas, and means providing limited readily releasableadhesive attachment between one of said tabs and said opening portion ofsaid second flap and between said overlying opening portions of saidflaps for ready separation of said tab and said opening portions, whilebonding said tab and said opening portions against premature accidentalseparation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,583,856 Klein Jan. 29, 1952 2,950,036 Vergobbi Aug. 23, 1960 2,979,247Pellaton et a1 Apr. 11, 1961 3,071,304 Brastad Jan. 1, 1963

1. A CARTON COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY FORMED OF SIDE PANELS AND A LINERINSERTED THEREIN, SAID CARTON HAVING END FLAPS FOR CLOSING IN END OFSAID CARTONS, SAID END FLAPS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND FLAPS HINGED ATFIRST AND SECOND HINGE LINES RESPECTIVELY TO FIRST AND SECOND PANELSLOCATED AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BODY, SAID END FLAPS INCLUDING A TABHINGED AT A THIRD HINGE LINE TO A THIRD PANEL CONNECTING SAID FIRST ANDSECOND HINGED PANELS, SAID LINER BEING LONG ENOUGH SO A FIRST SELECTEDPORTION THEREOF PROJECTS BEYOND THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID THIRD PANEL, SAIDLINER ALSO BEING LONG ENOUGH SO A SECOND SELECTED PORTION THEREOFPROJECTS BEYOND THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FIRST FLAP, SAID SECOND SELECTEDPORTION BEING FOLDED DOWN TO EXTEND ACROSS THE CARTON END AND TO DOUBLEFOLD THE LINER IN AT LEAST ONE SELECTED AREA TO FORM A FIRST DOUBLE FOLDAREA, SAID LINER BEING ADHESIVELY ATTACHED TO SAID FIRST TAB SO THE FOLDLINE OF SAID FIRST DOUBLE FOLD AREA EXTENDS DIAGONALLY FROMSUBSTANTIALLY ONE END OF THE HINGE LINE OF SAID FIRST FLAP ALONG SAIDTAB TO FORM SUBSTANTIALLY A 45* ANGLE WITH SAID TAB HINGE LINE, A SECONDDOUBLE FOLD AREA IN THE LINER COMPRISED OF A FIRST PART OF SAID FIRSTDOUBLE FOLD AREA BEING FOLDED OVER A SECOND PART OF SAID FIRST DOUBLEFOLD AREA, SAID LINER BEING ADHESIVELY ATTACHED TO SAID FIRST TAB SO THEFOLD LINE OF SAID SECOND DOUBLE FOLD AREA EXTENDS DIAGONALLY FROMSUBSTANTIALLY ONE END OF THE HINGE LINE OF SAID SECOND FLAP ALONG SAIDTAB TO FORM SUBSTANTIALLY A 45* ANGLE WITH SAID TAB HINGE LINE, SAIDLINER BEING ATTACHED TO SAID TAB TO PERMIT SAID LINER TO FORM SAIDDIAGONAL LINES AND TO CAUSE SAID LINER TO BE RAISED WHEN SAID TAB ISRAISED, SAID FIRST FLAP BEING FOLDED DOWN TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY OVERLIETHE CARTON OPENING, SAID SECOND FLAP BEING FOLDED DOWN TO AT LEASTPARTIALLY OVERLIE SAID FIRST FLAP AND TO BEING SAID FIRST PART OF SAIDFIRST DOUBLE FOLD AREA INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH SAID SECOND PART OF SAIDFIRST DOUBLE FOLD AREA, SAID FOLDING DOWN OF SAID SECOND FLAP TO ALSOBRING THE INNER SURFACE OF AT LEAST A PART OF THE AREA OF SAID LINERWHICH IS CLOSE TO AND PROJECTS ABOVE THE HINGE LINE OF SAID SECOND FLAPINTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE PORTION OF THE LINERWHICH PROJECTS BEYOND THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FIRST FLAP, SAID TAB BEINGFOLDED DOWN TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY OVERLIE SAID SECOND FLAP AND TO BRINGSAID FIRST AND SECOND DOUBLE FOLD AREAS INTO SUPERPOSED POSITION BETWEENSAID TAB AND SAID SECOND FLAP, AND MEANS PROVIDING A LIMITED READILYRELEASABLE ADHESIVE ATTACHMENT BETWEEN SAID FIRST FLAP AND SAID TAB FORREADY SEPARATION THEREOF, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BONDING SAID FLAP ANDTAB AGAINST PREMATURE ACCIDENTAL SEPARATION.